I want to be proactive about my health. What preventive services should I be taking advantage of with Medicare?

Question

Christopher Garcia · Accepted Answer

medicare has a standardized list of preventive services that are covered as well as as a standard frequency when you should be getting these screenings. Your summary of benefits should have a list of these in your preventive services section. Sometimes the frequency can vary based on medical history and necessity. It’s important to work with your doctor to determine if your screening should be done more frequently than the standard.

Answered by Christopher Garcia on April 7, 2025

Broker Licensed in NM, AZ, CO & TX

Answered by Christopher Garcia Medicare Insurance Agent

Lt Col Tim Brown · Answer

There is a list of preventative services on Medicare.gov.  Of course your annual physical, exercise and diet.

Tasha Riggs · Answer

All of them!!! Look at your brochure for your plan. I would get all my preventive that fits who I am and get it all done. Its worth it!

Jennifer McDonnell · Answer

Medicare offers a 'new to Medicare' physical and after that usually some form of annual 'Wellness Exam'. It's important when scheduling a 'wellness exam' to make sure the doctor knows you want a 'wellness exam', not a 'physical'. Most Medicare Advantage plans will cover some form of wellness exam annually.

Answered by Jennifer McDonnell on May 26, 2025

Broker Licensed in MI, AZ, CA & 10 other states

Answered by Jennifer McDonnell Medicare Insurance Agent

Yasmery Vargas · Answer

Take advantage of the extra services provided to you by your plan. Most medicare advatage plans include some Nutrition education courses, as well as good health maintanance classes and gym membership. Take advantage of preventive services covered and get your annual check ups done as well.

Answered by Yasmery Vargas on April 21, 2025

Agent Licensed in PA

Answered by Yasmery Vargas Medicare Insurance Agent

Glenn Quinn · Answer

Medicare provides a range of preventive services to help you stay healthy, detect health problems early, and prevent certain diseases. These services are covered by Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). 
Key Preventive Services Covered by Medicare:**
Wellness Visits: Including a one-time "Welcome to Medicare" visit and annual "Wellness" visits to review health history and create prevention plans. Note that these are not full physical exams.
Screenings: Medicare covers various screenings for conditions such as cancer (colorectal, breast, cervical, vaginal, prostate, lung), cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, glaucoma, abdominal aortic aneurysm, hepatitis B and C, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Vaccinations: Covered vaccinations include flu shots, COVID-19 vaccines, pneumococcal shots, and Hepatitis B shots. Shingles and Tdap shots are covered under Medicare Part D.
Counseling and Therapies: Services include counseling for tobacco use, alcohol misuse, medical nutrition therapy for certain conditions, and behavioral therapy for obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Other Services: Bone mass measurements for those at high risk for osteoporosis and the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program for individuals at high risk for diabetes are also covered. 
Important Notes:
You generally pay nothing for most preventive services if the provider accepts Medicare assignment.
Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) must offer at least the same benefits as Original Medicare, but may have different rules and network restrictions.
Consult your doctor to determine which preventive services are appropriate for you. 
Utilizing these covered services can help you proactively manage your health and potentially detect health issues early.

Steve Brauer · Answer

I would absolutely do the yearly wellness exam to start with. Medicare Advantage plans offer "incentives" for people who are willing to be proactive with preventative services, join gyms, etc.

Carol Thompson · Answer

There are a long list of preventative services that are available to you. Your pcp will assist you with those tests.

Chuck Winslow · Answer

Covered Preventive Services with Medicare Part B:

1. "Welcome to Medicare" Visit (First 12 Months)

One-time check-up to review your health, risk factors, and future screenings.


2. Annual Wellness Visit (Yearly)

A personalized prevention plan to update screenings and manage health goals.


3. Screenings (Usually Once a Year or as Recommended):

Mammogram (Breast cancer)

Colorectal cancer screening (includes colonoscopy and stool tests)

Lung cancer screening (for high-risk individuals)

Prostate cancer screening

Cardiovascular disease screening

Diabetes screening

Depression screening

Bone density test (osteoporosis)


4. Vaccinations:

Flu shot (yearly)

Pneumonia shot

Hepatitis B (for those at higher risk)

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters (as recommended)


5. Additional Services:

Smoking cessation counseling

Obesity counseling

Nutrition therapy (for diabetes or kidney disease)

Glaucoma tests (for high-risk individuals)



---

Most of these are free if your provider accepts Medicare. Staying up to date on these can make a big difference in staying independent and active.

Wild Bill Anderson · Answer

Plans have many preventative test to catch things small.  
For Men: PSA, blood test with glucose, liver enzymes, cardio and immunity screening are important. Also a Colonoscopy every 10 years if you are not high risk, every 5 years if you have had polyps or family prostate issues.

For Woman: have a yearly mammogram. Also the blood test has indicated above from men and a colonoscopy. Thyroid may also be an issue so ask about testing.

Everyone should get a yearly checkup to see if you need a tuneup. Prevention is always best but catching things small is important too!

Lawanda Radford · Answer

Hi, that’s a great question. Medicare covers many preventive services to help you stay healthy. I would recommend getting your free Annual Wellness Visit each year, plus screenings for conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Medicare also covers important vaccines like flu, COVID-19, and shingles. Talk to your doctor to see which services are right for you. Hope this information helps.

Answered by Lawanda Radford on May 7, 2025

Agent Licensed in GA, AZ, FL & 10 other states

Answered by Lawanda Radford Medicare Insurance Agent

Silvana Peacock · Answer

Medicare offers a wide range of preventive services that are often covered at no cost like:
mammograms, diabetes, colorectal cancer screening, flu shots. I always encourage my clients to schedule their yearly check ups.

Joel Montilla, Esq. · Answer

Exercising and receiving credit for doing so, if your plan offers it, and nutrition. Monitor your progress every year, year after year.

I want to be proactive about my health. What preventive services should I be taking advantage of with Medicare?

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I want to be proactive about my health. What preventive services should I be taking advantage of with Medicare?

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